Starting device for engines.



J. T. BARBER. STARTING DEVICE FOR ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22, 1908.

Patented Mar. 15,1910.

nuanfoz Wihwooao UNITE STAEFE PATENT OFFlQE.

JAMES T. BARBER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

STARTING DEVICE FOR ENGINES.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, J Ann's T. BARBER,citizen of the United States. residing at Brooklyn, in .the county of Kings and State of invention has for'its object an improved device of this character, by means of which the shaft of the engine may be continuously turned in one direction with a minimum exertion' on thepart of the operator, so as to effect the compression and ignition of a charge and thus conveniently set the engine in motion, and which embodies a peculiar arrangement, whereby the parts of the device are effectually maintained against reverse movement in the event of the shaft being turned in the opposite direction from back pressure, and therefore precluding the liability of injury to the operator, as is frequent with the ordinary starting cranks in general use.

VViththis and other objects in view that will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and then point out the novelfeatures thereof in the appended claims.

Fora full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, and to acquire a knowledgeof the details of construction, reference is to be had to the follbwing description and accompanying drawing, 'in which:

Figure *1 is aside elevation of a starting device embodying the improvements of myinvention," Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; F 1g. 3 1s a face view of one of the bevel gears, showing the crown ratchet carried thereby; Fig. & is a detail sectional View, showing the pawls mounted in the frictlon sleeve; and

Fig. 5 is a similar View illustrating the'inan nor of mounting the sleeve upon the shaft. Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following des'cription and indicated in all the Views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

..My.improved starting device is deslgned Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 22, 1908.

whereby to admit of the shaft turning Patented Mar. 15, ilfiittt.

Serial No. 468,882.

to, be applied to a shaft 1 or similar rotary element of an'explosive-engine (not shown), which may be of any desired. or 21, proved construction or design, as it in itse f forms no part of the present invention. The shaft 1 is preferably journaled at longitudinally spaced points in suitable bearings 2. A sleeve 3 is mounted on the shaft between the bearings in such a manner that the sleeve and shaft constitute a friction clutch,

the sleeve in event of a back kick. The sleeve is formed with a longitudinal opening 4 extending the entire length thereof and accommodating two sliding pawls 5 and 5 the extremities of the pawls being similarly beveled, as indicated at 6. An expansion sprin 7 is also mounted within the opening 4; an is interposed between the adjacent ends of the pawls and normally exerts its tension to shoot the same longitudinally beyond the opposite ends of the sleeve 3 and project the beveled extremities 6 into the line of the teeth of two crown ratchets 8 and 8 the teeth of both of the crown ratchets facing in the same circular direction, as shown. cast integral with or otherwise rigidly secured to two bevel gear wheels 9 and 9 that are loosely mounted upon the shaft 1 between. the ends of the sleeve 3 and the .mutilated the same, as indicated at 11, the

mutilated portions of the bevel gear wheels 9 and 9 being disposed diametrically oppositely to each other, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. The'mi-ter-g'ear 10 is arranged longitudinally of the shaft and is journaled on a suitable supportingbracket 12, a handle 13 bein rigid with the miter-gear, so as to admit of the same being turned manually.

In the practical use of my improved starting device, the handle 13 is moved in one direction, say toward the bevel gear 9, and

it will be manifest that the consequent move- The crown ratchets .8 and 8 are thereof it will be observed ment of the miter-gear 10 effects the turning of the bevel gear 9 in the direction of the teeth of the crown ratchets, while the bevel gear 9 is turned in the opposite direction.

s the bevel gear wheels are thus turned,

the beveled extremity 6 of the spring pawl 5 will ride over .the teeth of the crown ratchet 8, while the otherpawl 5* will engage with the teeth of the crown ratchet 8 so as to lock the sleeve 3 thereto and hence effect the'turning 0f the shaft 1 with the bevel ear 9, through the instrumentality of the 'riction clutch. When the handle has reached the limit of its movement in.. the aforementioned direction, it is reversed and swung toward the bevel gear 9 and this reverses. the direction of movement of the bevel gears, so that the bevel gear 9 is turned in the direction of the teeth of the .crown ratchets, while the bevel gear 9 is turned in the opposite direction, and hence the pawl 5 will ride over the teeth of the 'crown ratchet 8", while the other pawl will engage with the crown ratchet 8, whereby the rota tion of the sleeve 3 and the shaft 1 in the direction of the teeth of the crown ratchets is made continuous. The operator continues to oscillate the handle 13 so as to turn the shaft 1 as just described, as long as is neces-.

saryto effect the compression and ignition of a charge in the engine, to'set the same in motion.

Should the compressed charge for' any reasonbe not ex loded in the cylinder and act upon the shaft 1' to turn the latter from back pressure-in the opposite direction, that is, in the direction opposite to the teeth of,

the crown ratchets, it will be apparent that if the sleeve 3 shouldtend to move with the shaft, both of the pawls would therefore become engaged with the teeth of the respective crown ratchets. The bevel gear wheels- 9 and 9 would thus tend tobe turned with the sleeve 3, but inasmuch as these bevel gear wheels mesh with the miter-gear 10 at substantially diametrically opposite oints that in or er to effect the rotation of'the miter-gear wheel, it is necessary that the bevel, gear wheels should turn' in the opposite directions, and therefore by such. an arrangement the loose gear wheels and the sleeve engaged therewith would be held looked. a ainst turning with the shaft, so that the" atter revolves within the, sleeve, as permitted by the clutch without efi'ectin the reverse movement of the starting devlce. The handle 13 is thus held against actuation and hence the operator is not subjected to the liability of inwill be a parent that I ave provided an imjury such as has'become so frequent with the use of the ordinary starting crank.

.From the foregoing description, in connection with the .accom anying drawing, 1t

only a minimum exertion on the part ofthe operator, the device also possessing the characteristics of simplicity, durability and efv ficiency in construction and operation, and

consisting of comparativel few partsthat may be easily and readily assembled.

and cheap y manufactured.

In the present instance the friction clutch between the shaft and the sleeve is established by splitting the latter longitudinally and connecting the split edges thereof by set screws, as will be observed by reference to Fig. 5. S rings are interposed between the heads of t e set screws and the adjacent portions of the sleeve so as to admit of the split edges spreading apart uponthe turning. of the shaft in the reverse direction from back pressure or the like.- The sleeve is formed diametrically opposite to its'split edges with a longitudinal bore which reducesth'e cross sectional area of the sleeve and admits of the same yielding'slightly at this point. e

Having thus described the invention, what I claim 1s: s p a 1. In a starting device, the combination of a shaft, gear wheels mounted to turn on the shaft a sleeve interposed between the gear wheels, means for oscillating the gear wheels in opposite directions, and an operative connection between the gear wheels and the sleeve toefliect the continuous movement of the shaft in one direction, the sleeve being mounted on the shaft to turn relative there to in the other direction, asand for the .purpose specified.

' 2. In a starting'device, the combination of a. shaft, a sleeve frictionally mounted on the shaft and split longitudinally andformed diametrically pposit'e to its split edges with a longitudlnal bore, "a screw passed loosely through one of the split edges of the sleeve and positively secured in the a other edge, a coil spring encircling the screw and interposed between the head thereof and the adjacent portion of the sleeve, and geartheshaft, a sleeve interposed between the gear wheels, means for oscillatin the gear wheels in opposite directions, an an oper-,

ative connection between the gear. wheels ing for turmng the sleeve continuously in and the sleeve to elfect-the continuous movement of the shaft in one direction, the sleeveiao.

shaft and provided with crown ratchets, a

tions, and'pawls carried by the sleeve and vetaaos being frictionally mounted on the shaft ,to turn relative thereto in the other direction.

4. In a startin device, the combination of a shaft, gears oosely mounted upon the sleeve mounted upon-the shaft and interosed between the crown ratchets, means or oscillating the gears in opposite direcspring-pressed to engage the crown ratchet/s to effect the continuous movement of the shaft in one direction, the sleeve being mounted on the shaft to turn relative thereto in the other direction.

-5. In a starting device, the combination of a shaft, longitudinally spaced gears mountedto turn on the shaft and held against longitudinal movement thereon, the gears being provided with opposing crown ratchets, a sleeve mounted on the shaft and interposed between the crown ratchets, a driving gear meshing with both of the first named gears, means for oscillating the driving ear, and pawls carried by the sleeve and springpressed to engage the vrespective crown ratchets to effect the continuous movement of the shaft in one direction.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES T. BARBER.- [L.S.] Witnesses:

J OHN P. OARLsoN, GEORGE FEY- 

